Acheulean “modernity” at Gesher Benot Ya‘aqov 800,000 years ago!

[Jacques Cinq-Mars]

For your information.

I find it surprising that this article has not already been picked up and widely circulated. It should be read and fully digested by all those researchers who insist on thinking that the various technological repertoires of so-called “modernity”, as seen in Africa and Eurasian lower latitudes, began to coalesce relatively recently, in the early phases of the Late Pleistocene.

Rivka Rabinovich, Sabine Gaudzinski-Windheuser, and Naama Goren-Inbar. 2008. Systematic butchering of fallow deer (Dama) at the early middle Pleistocene Acheulian site of Gesher Benot Ya‘aqov (Israel). Journal of Human Evolution 54: 134-149.

Abstract:
Three assemblages of fallow deer Dama sp.) bones excavated from the early middle Pleistocene (oxygen isotope stage 18) layers of the Acheulian site of Gesher Benot Ya‘aqov, Israel, furnish evidence of systematic and repeated exploitation of complete carcasses by hominins. The excellent state of preservation of the bones and the presence of only minimal signs of carnivore involvement permit an investigation of the role of hominins as the primary agents responsible for the damage to these bones. Hominin expertise in dealing with fallow deer carcasses is manifested by cut marks, percussion marks, and hack marks on the bones. The archaeozoological analysis of the anatomical position and frequency of these marks suggests that carcass processing followed systematic practices that reflect an in-depth knowledge of fallow deer anatomy and a consistent behavioral strategy. These assemblages represent one of the earliest examples of methodological butchering practices in Eurasia. The evidence of carcass processing observed at Gesher Benot Ya‘aqov resembles that seen in late Pleistocene sites in Israel, which were inhabited by modern humans. We interpret the Gesher Benot Ya‘aqov data as indicating that the Acheulian hunters at the site (1) were proficient communicators and learners and (2) possessed anatomical knowledge, considerable manual skill, impressive technological abilities, and foresight.

Keywords: Acheulian; Butchering; Dama; Gesher Benot Ya‘aqov.

… and the last paragraph of the Conclusions:

The processing of the Dama carcasses at GBY by Acheulian hominins suggests an expertise comparable to that of the anatomically modern humans at Hayonim Cave. The fact that butchery patterns similar to those of the Upper Paleolithic can be traced back 800,000 years has profound implications for our understanding of the evolution of human behavior if the modes by which hominins acquired and processed animals are considered evaluative criteria of ‘‘modernity,’’ as claimed by Binford (1988), for example. The skillful carcass processing described here contributes to a body of multidisciplinary evidence that suggests that the site’s occupants were proficient communicators and learners and possessed anatomical knowledge, manual skill, impressive technological abilities, and foresight, as illustrated in their biface production (Madsen and Goren-Inbar, 2004), control of fire (Goren-Inbar et al., 2004), and exploitation of floral biota (Goren-Inbar et al., 2001; Goren-Inbar et al., 2002; Melamed, 2003). Over a period of approximately 100,000 years (Feibel, 2004), the occupants of the shores of paleo-Lake Hula exhibited extensive ecological knowledge, of which Dama exploitation is just one component.

Click
HERE for access to the full article.

Jacques

[Charlie Hatchett]

For your information.

I find it surprising that this article has not already been picked up and widely circulated. It should be read and fully digested by all those researchers who insist on thinking that the various technological repertoires of so-called “modernity”, as seen in Africa and Eurasian lower latitudes, began to coalesce relatively recently, in the early phases of the Late Pleistocene.

Rivka Rabinovich, Sabine Gaudzinski-Windheuser, and Naama Goren-Inbar. 2008. Systematic butchering of fallow deer (Dama) at the early middle Pleistocene Acheulian site of Gesher Benot Ya‘aqov (Israel). Journal of Human Evolution 54: 134-149.

Abstract:
Three assemblages of fallow deer Dama sp.) bones excavated from the early middle Pleistocene (oxygen isotope stage 18) layers of the Acheulian site of Gesher Benot Ya‘aqov, Israel, furnish evidence of systematic and repeated exploitation of complete carcasses by hominins. The excellent state of preservation of the bones and the presence of only minimal signs of carnivore involvement permit an investigation of the role of hominins as the primary agents responsible for the damage to these bones. Hominin expertise in dealing with fallow deer carcasses is manifested by cut marks, percussion marks, and hack marks on the bones. The archaeozoological analysis of the anatomical position and frequency of these marks suggests that carcass processing followed systematic practices that reflect an in-depth knowledge of fallow deer anatomy and a consistent behavioral strategy. These assemblages represent one of the earliest examples of methodological butchering practices in Eurasia. The evidence of carcass processing observed at Gesher Benot Ya‘aqov resembles that seen in late Pleistocene sites in Israel, which were inhabited by modern humans. We interpret the Gesher Benot Ya‘aqov data as indicating that the Acheulian hunters at the site (1) were proficient communicators and learners and (2) possessed anatomical knowledge, considerable manual skill, impressive technological abilities, and foresight.

Keywords: Acheulian; Butchering; Dama; Gesher Benot Ya‘aqov.

… and the last paragraph of the Conclusions:

The processing of the Dama carcasses at GBY by Acheulian hominins suggests an expertise comparable to that of the anatomically modern humans at Hayonim Cave. The fact that butchery patterns similar to those of the Upper Paleolithic can be traced back 800,000 years has profound implications for our understanding of the evolution of human behavior if the modes by which hominins acquired and processed animals are considered evaluative criteria of ‘‘modernity,’’ as claimed by Binford (1988), for example. The skillful carcass processing described here contributes to a body of multidisciplinary evidence that suggests that the site’s occupants were proficient communicators and learners and possessed anatomical knowledge, manual skill, impressive technological abilities, and foresight, as illustrated in their biface production (Madsen and Goren-Inbar, 2004), control of fire (Goren-Inbar et al., 2004), and exploitation of floral biota (Goren-Inbar et al., 2001; Goren-Inbar et al., 2002; Melamed, 2003). Over a period of approximately 100,000 years (Feibel, 2004), the occupants of the shores of paleo-Lake Hula exhibited extensive ecological knowledge, of which Dama exploitation is just one component.

Click
HERE for access to the full article.

Jacques

"...site’s occupants were proficient communicators and learners and possessed anatomical knowledge, manual skill, impressive technological abilities, and foresight, as illustrated in their biface production (Madsen and Goren-Inbar, 2004), control of fire (Goren-Inbar et al., 2004), and exploitation of floral biota (Goren-Inbar et al., 2001; Goren-Inbar et al., 2002; Melamed, 2003)..."

Brings to mind Bednarik’s “Erectus Ahoy” hypothesis:

http://mc2.vicnet.net.au/home/mariners/web/mariners.html

Heard anything new on the supposed Homo erectus villages?

Respectfully,

Charlie

[Jacques Cinq-Mars]

Brings to mind Bednarik’s “Erectus Ahoy” hypothesis:

http://mc2.vicnet.net.au/home/mariners/web/mariners.html

Heard anything new on the supposed Homo erectus villages?

Respectfully,

Charlie

Regarding Bednarik’s “Erectus Ahoy” hypothesis:
Given what has been elicited from Gesher Benot Ya‘aqov and a number of other Eurasian and African sites regarding the cognitive abilities and technological repertoires of Homo erectus, I think it is safe to assume that the distant cousins inhabiting (Island) Southeast Asia could well have  developed, over many millennia, various navigational capabilities. Too bad these people didn’t have digital cameras!

About Homo erectus villages:
If this (HERE) is what you are referring to, I have not heard a beep. If I were you, I would not expect too much from the promised further studies, i.e., the demonstration/confirmation that Homo erectus groups had achieved, during their tenure the socio-cultural/technological organisation levels and the demographic prerequisites needed to build and maintain actual "villages".

Jacques

[lagarvelho]

Jacques:

Regardless of whether or not there were any "villages" erected by H.erectus, or what kind of seafaring abilities they might have had, thank you for posting the link to the Gesher Benot Ya'aqov piece.  If it doesn't "confirm" anything from Bednarik, it certainly suggests that efficient hunting and butchering abilites developed quite early, and strengthens a case for (some) "modern" capacities developing quite early.  It's too bad more has not been made of this and other, similar articles.
Anne G

[trehinp]

Thanks Charlie, Jacques and Anne,

These were fascinating articles on early human competences. In particular the population of islands such as Sardinia 400,000 years ago, and given the depth of the Mediterranean Sea there was no possibility other than a form of navigation. However, I doubt that the replication of our ancestor's sea faring skills by Bednarik's research crew is giving a reasonable picture of the situation. 

These papers tend to confirm a progressive evolution of technology/culture rather than the theories who favour recent mutations as being at the origin of the so called "Upper Palaeolithic revolution".

But they should be analysed in parallel with other recent articles showing some late evolutionary adaptations. See here the other discussion on  PALANTH on that subject

These recent adaptations aren't contradicting an idea of a gradual evolution of technology/culture: there seems to be a continuing evolutionary process at work in human beings. Remains to be demonstrated whether there were/are on going series of evolutionary changes or, if, according to Gould's theory of punctuated equilibrium, there were some rather sudden changes followed by longer periods of stability.
 
Paul

[Jacques Cinq-Mars]

Thanks Charlie, Jacques and Anne,

These were fascinating articles on early human competences. In particular the population of islands such as Sardinia 400,000 years ago, and given the depth of the Mediterranean Sea there was no possibility other than a form of navigation. However, I doubt that the replication of our ancestor's sea faring skills by Bednarik's research crew is giving a reasonable picture of the situation. 

These papers tend to confirm a progressive evolution of technology/culture rather than the theories who favour recent mutations as being at the origin of the so called "Upper Palaeolithic revolution".

But they should be analysed in parallel with other recent articles showing some late evolutionary adaptations. See here the other discussion on  PALANTH on that subject

These recent adaptations aren't contradicting an idea of a gradual evolution of technology/culture: there seems to be a continuing evolutionary process at work in human beings. Remains to be demonstrated whether there were/are on going series of evolutionary changes or, if, according to Gould's theory of punctuated equilibrium, there were some rather sudden changes followed by longer periods of stability.
 
Paul

Paul,

I am not sure why, but you are certainly welcome. Also, I am at a loss here. What is the source of your statement regarding "the population of islands such as Sardinia 400,000 years ago"?

Jacques

[E.P. Grondine]

Hi y'all, or Bezon as some folk say -

As Paul points out, when people crossed water, they had to get there somehow. I didn't know about the early dates for Sardinia.

Looking at the images, I wonder if what happened was that frameworks covered with skins were used to contruct pit traps, and then this technology was adapted for the construction of skin covered boats?

Has anyone looked at the legs of mega-fauna kills for evidence of the use of pit traps?
Or if game were run into them, might you expect a lot of snapped necks?
Or do these show up in the artwork?

E.P. Grondine
Man and Impact in the Americas

[AWSX]

E.P.,
There is evidence for animals being driven over cliffs, but come to think of it, I know of no ancient evidence for pit traps.

You may be right about the skin covered boats, but the idea for building the wood frame could have come from bending sapplings to make a domed hut.

Allan Shumaker

[trehinp]

Paul,

I am not sure why, but you are certainly welcome. Also, I am at a loss here. What is the source of your statement regarding "the population of islands such as Sardinia 400,000 years ago"?

Jacques

The why "thanks" is for providing the ref to "Rise of man theory ‘out by 400,000 years’" paper.

As for the 400K years population of Sardinia, I took it in Bednarik 's paper: "The first mariners", available here

The presence of in situ stone tools in Middle Pleistocene deposits at Sa Coa de sa Multa near Perfuga, Sardinia, provides the earliest known indication of seafaring in the Mediterranean (Bini et al. 1993). The finds have been suggested to be in the order of 300 ka old.

I just made a mistake quoting it from memory: I said 400K years instead of 300 K years old...

I felt it was quite astonishing... Even only 300K years ago :-)

Paul

[E.P. Grondine]

Paul,

I am not sure why, but you are certainly welcome. Also, I am at a loss here. What is the source of your statement regarding "the population of islands such as Sardinia 400,000 years ago"?

Jacques

The why "thanks" is for providing the ref to "Rise of man theory ‘out by 400,000 years’" paper.

As for the 400K years population of Sardinia, I took it in Bednarik 's paper: "The first mariners", available here

The presence of in situ stone tools in Middle Pleistocene deposits at Sa Coa de sa Multa near Perfuga, Sardinia, provides the earliest known indication of seafaring in the Mediterranean (Bini et al. 1993). The finds have been suggested to be in the order of 300 ka old.

I just made a mistake quoting it from memory: I said 400K years instead of 300 K years old...

I felt it was quite astonishing... Even only 300K years ago :-)

Paul

Hi Paul -

Okay, but let's hold on for a second, before getting carried away with enthusiasm.  Didn't some geologists hold that the Straits of Gibraltar were closed at that time, and that they later opened and the Mediterranean flooded? Isn't this the usual explanation provided for the pygmy elephants remains found on Crete and Cyprus?

E.P. Grondine
Man and Impact in the Americas

[Jacques Cinq-Mars]

Paul,

I am not sure why, but you are certainly welcome. Also, I am at a loss here. What is the source of your statement regarding "the population of islands such as Sardinia 400,000 years ago"?

Jacques

The why "thanks" is for providing the ref to "Rise of man theory ‘out by 400,000 years’" paper.

As for the 400K years population of Sardinia, I took it in Bednarik 's paper: "The first mariners", available here

The presence of in situ stone tools in Middle Pleistocene deposits at Sa Coa de sa Multa near Perfuga, Sardinia, provides the earliest known indication of seafaring in the Mediterranean (Bini et al. 1993). The finds have been suggested to be in the order of 300 ka old.

I just made a mistake quoting it from memory: I said 400K years instead of 300 K years old...

I felt it was quite astonishing... Even only 300K years ago :-)

Paul

Thanks Paul. I had forgotten about that. And since I have no hope of putting my hands on a copy of Bednarik’single reference, i.e.,

Bini, C., F. Martini, G. Pitzalis and A. Ulzega. 1993. Sa Coa de Sa Multa e Sa Pedrosa Pantallinu: du ‘Paleosuprfici’ clactoniane in Sardegna. Atti della XXX Riunione Scientifica, ‘Paleosuperfici del Pleistocene e del primo Oligocene, Processi si Formazione e Interpretazione’, Venosa ed Isernia, 26-29 ottobre 1991: 179-197. Firenze: Istituto Italiano di Preistoria e Protostoria.

… I’ll have to find out  from colleagues who are presently working in Sardinia what they think about it all. If something comes up, I’ll pass it on.

Jacques

[Jacques Cinq-Mars]

Paul,

I am not sure why, but you are certainly welcome. Also, I am at a loss here. What is the source of your statement regarding "the population of islands such as Sardinia 400,000 years ago"?

Jacques

The why "thanks" is for providing the ref to "Rise of man theory ‘out by 400,000 years’" paper.

As for the 400K years population of Sardinia, I took it in Bednarik 's paper: "The first mariners", available here

The presence of in situ stone tools in Middle Pleistocene deposits at Sa Coa de sa Multa near Perfuga, Sardinia, provides the earliest known indication of seafaring in the Mediterranean (Bini et al. 1993). The finds have been suggested to be in the order of 300 ka old.

I just made a mistake quoting it from memory: I said 400K years instead of 300 K years old...

I felt it was quite astonishing... Even only 300K years ago :-)

Paul

Hi Paul -

Okay, but let's hold on for a second, before getting carried away with enthusiasm.  Didn't some geologists hold that the Straits of Gibraltar were closed at that time, and that they later opened and the Mediterranean flooded? Isn't this the usual explanation provided for the pygmy elephants remains found on Crete and Cyprus?

E.P. Grondine
Man and Impact in the Americas

Well, it seems that elephants do not necessarily need land bridges to move across to nearby chunks of land. They can be pretty good swimmers:

Johnson, Donald Lee. 1980. Problems in the Land Vertebrate Zoogeography of Certain Islands and the Swimming Powers of Elephants. Journal of Biogeography 7(4): 383-398.

ABSTRACT:
The presence of fossil elephants on certain islands off California, in the Mediterranean, in Indonesia, and off China has led to two widely accepted assumptions: (1) that elephants, being poor swimmers, could not have swum to the islands and therefore must have waked to them, which indicates that (2) land bridges once joined the islands to the mainland. These two assumptions have profoundly influenced various insular biogeographic and geologic reconstructions on and around these islands. New evidence, however, shows unequivocally that living elephants are excellent distance swimmers. They swim in a lunging, porpoise-like fashion while using their trunk as a snorkel. Elephant swimming speeds have been measured up to 2.70km/h, and maximum distances estimated at 38 km. Their chief motives for swimming seem to be that they can see the islands and smell food on them. Because elephants arc excellent distance swimmers, we must re-appraise the origin of land vertebrates on all the islands that held elephants, as well as reappraise the geologic reconstructions that assumed land bridges once connected these islands to the mainland.

Jacques

[Charlie Hatchett]

Here's a video I posted in another thread:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywXYfLFapLY

Charlie

[Jacques Cinq-Mars]

Here's a video I posted in another thread:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywXYfLFapLY

Charlie

Charlie,

Again, I may have missed something! What "other thread" are you referring to?

This said, this is pretty neat footage. A nice complement to the D. L. Johnson’s paper I mentioned earlier. Thanks for passing it on.

Finally, I may I suggest that any further discussion of matters that have very little or nothing to do with the real purpose of the original thread, i.e. “Gesher Benot Ya‘aqov” be posted, inasmuch as possible, in new threads bearing relevant topical names. This, by the way, goes for me as well as for all the other participants. Given time, I’ll have more to say about this problem of topical "drift".

Jacques

[trehinp]

Hi Paul -
Okay, but let's hold on for a second, before getting carried away with enthusiasm.  Didn't some geologists hold that the Straits of Gibraltar were closed at that time, and that they later opened and the Mediterranean flooded? Isn't this the usual explanation provided for the pygmy elephants remains found on Crete and Cyprus?

Hi E.P.

Thanks for the information. I've tried to find scientific papers on the sea level in the Mediterraneum during the lower and midle Palaeolithic period. I have found many article attesting a middle palaeolithic hominid occupation of Sardinia but I wasn't successful on sea level articles search... I get contradictory "stories" some saying that Sardinia was connected to the Italian Peninsula during prehistoric times (without precise dates) other saying Sardinia was never connected to the continent.

Do you have references that give serious estimations about the sea level in the Mediterraneum during the lower and midle Palaeolithic period? At least about Sardinia being connected to the continent?

Thanks

Paul